Steam-trap



UNTTEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALEB C. WALVORTH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,795, dated June 19, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALEB C. VVALWORTH,

of Boston, in the county 0f Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Reducing Pressure-Valve and Steam-Trap; and Ido hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with thedrawing which accompanies and forms part of this specification, is adescription thereof so full and exact as to enable those skilled in theart to practice my invention.

The accompanying drawing is a sectional elevation illustrating myinvention.

This consists in the means which I employ or their substantialequivalents to cause steam of low pressure to act upon a surface oflarge area to counterbalance higher pressure steam on a surface ofsmaller area, and vice versa in such a manner that the pressure of steamdirect upon, and the movement in consequence thereof of the saidsurfaces shall act to control communication from one surface to theother, and in so doing shall keep a constant relative difference betweenthe said pressures proportional to the exposed areas. Also in thecombination with such means of a siphon of such length as is suited t0the pressure which acts upon the large area whereby I am enabled to passoff the condensed water without loss of steam and am furnished with asafety apparatus which cannot fail to act to relieve the pressure on thereduced side if ever it exceeds the amount designed by any fault oraccident whatever.

(a) is an annular diaphragm clamped and held around its outer edgebetween the flanges (b) and (6'). The lower flange (b) forms part of atight cup shaped vessel (c) which terminates suitably for connecting a.pipe thereto. The upper flange (b) forms part of a cap (e) shaped andterminated similarly to (c) but having communication with the air at(d). The lower part of (f) which forms part of or is secured to (e) ismade the seat and guide of puppet valve (9); it is also necked andscrewed so that the inner edge of the diaphragm is secured thereto asshown in the drawing by the nut (7L). The wide ring is secured to theupper surface of the diaphragm and the yoke is secured to lower surfacethereof and to the ring (i). The valve (g) is connected to the yoke asshown in the drawings or in any other suitable manner so that Imovements of the diaphragm are communicated to the valve and vice versa.From the pipe which is fixed to the lower end of (c) there is an outlet(la) for connecting with, and supplying reduced pressure steam to,calender rolls or any other heating apparatus.- Below the outlet (7c) isa siphon (m) m) and an open outlet (n).

The operation of the parts is as follows: Assuming the areas of (g) and(ai) exposed to pressure of steam within (f) and (c) to be respectivelyone, and one hundred square inches, and the pressure of steam conductedto (g) through (f) at one hundred pounds, it will be evident that if theoutlet is closed by water in the siphon as will be hereafter explained,or if it is closed by a plug, the steam will flow into (c) and anyreceivers beyond connected with (c) till the pressure therein is onepound, when the valve( will be in equilibrium being acted upon by onehundred pounds pressure in each direction. Any excess of pressure in (c)or any diminution thereof in will operate to destroy ths equilibrium andto close the valve and any excess of `ressure in (f) or diminutionthereof in c) will open the valve. In this illustration the pressuresnamed are above atmospheric pressure and no allowance made for frictionof the moving parts which would require a slight increase of pressure in(c) over the theoretical one. It will be evident that the pressures in(f) and (c) will bear a uniform ratio to each other, if the steam in (f)was reduced to fty pounds then that in (c) would be one half pound. Theratio may be easily changed by a change in the exposed area of the valveor diaphragm. Under the circumstances assumed in the illustration thearm (m) of the Siphon should be about three feet in length below theoutlet (n) and if in letting the steam into the instrument it is notfilled with water by condensation then water should be supplied. Vithone pound pressure in (c) the wat'er will stand at about 2695 incheshigher in (m) than in (m) which prevents any escape of steam but permitsthe constant flow from of any condensation which flows into (m). If thevalve (g) should get jammed or be prevented from working by dirt or rustthe pressure will increase in (c) beyond that designed, and willovercome the weight of water in (m) blowing it out through (n) thusgiving notice of the deranfement of the apparatus. The length of m) mustbe made to correspond to the pressure of steam designed to be carried in(c).

My reducing pressure apparatus is useful whenever high pressure steam isgenerated when it is desired to use steam of less pressure for heatingpurposes as in paper mill rolls &c. Also wherever exhaust steam from anengine is used to supply avariable demand, my invention may be used toconnect the high pressure steam with the exhaust to supply anydeficiency in the latter.

Vhile I have described (a) as a diaphragm it is plain that it mightbe anannular piston; the diaphragm however I believe to be the best. In theU. S. Patent No. 24,402 a diaphragm or piston is operated against avariable weight or scale beam to open and shut a steam valve for thepurpose of reducing steam pressure and which arran ement operates togive reduced steam of uni orm pressure without any fixed ratio betweenits pressure and that of the steam from which it is reduced I am awarethat it is not new to reduce the pressure of high steam by throttlingit.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States isl. The combination of the high pressure s te amchamber (f) reduced steam chamber 0 equivalent so arranged that thecommunication between these chambers is controlled by the direct actionof high pressure steam upon one side of the valve to open it, and ofreduced steam upon the diaphragm and the other side of the valve toclose it.

2. Also in combination with a reduced steam chamber a siphon (m) (m)substantially as and for the purpose specified.

C. C. WALWORTH.

Witnesses:

J. B. CROSBY, GORDON MCKAY.

valve (g) and diaphragm (a) or itsI

